ESI Registration - Date When We Crossed The Employees 10?

Dear Seniors, In our firm employees strength is 17 and now we want to take registration in ESI. however as per ESI norms we should have take ESI registration when we crossed employees strength 10 so pls clarify will i have to take registration from previous date i.e. when we crossed the employees 10 or we can take now on existing date having employees 17 with No previous contribution & damages and penalty?
Thanks
Ragini

1. Dear member, coverage under ESI Act, 1948 is compulsory and a unit ( if situated in implemented area and is of notified category) becomes coverable/covered on the date when it firstly employed 10 or more persons. You can try obtaining ESI Code Number online from present date, if allowed so, but the said date of coverage can be provisional. You can also contact the appropriate Sub Regional Office of ESIC in the matter by indicating present number of employees to obtain code number.
2. Even if you will not get coverage of your unit at present, or may get provisionally from present date as mentioned above, and if later on there is preliminary survey by the said department, your unit will be covered retrospectively from the very date it employed firstly 10 or more persons. Interest and damages and leviable in such cases and cannot be avoided.

Hi Ragini,
in UP liabilities of ESI coverage 10 employees from May 2013